NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd. has moved quickly to clarify that a widely circulated advertisement claiming the company was urgently hiring 450 tradespeople was unauthorised and misleading.
The ad, which used the Shipyard’s logo, was posted by JS Contractors Inc. without prior approval. According to the Shipyard, the advertisement was created and distributed by an employee of JS Contractors acting independently and without instruction from either company.
JS Contractors removed the ad once management became aware of it and has acknowledged full responsibility. The Shipyard described the employee’s actions as “unethical,” noting the intent appeared to be the improper expansion of a recruitment database rather than an actual hiring initiative.
In a statement, Chris Earl, CEO of the Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd emphasized that its workforce strategy remains unchanged. Nearly 60 percent of its total workforce is Bahamian, with over 200 Bahamians employed full time. In addition to its core staff, the company works with local labor providers to support short-term or project-based surges in activity.
The Shipyard highlighted ongoing investments in training and development aimed at strengthening Bahamian participation in skilled maritime trades. This includes an internationally accredited apprenticeship program that recruits new Bahamian candidates annually.
Its latest intake—a cohort of 20 young Bahamian apprentices—recently returned from four months of intensive technical training at an engineering institution in the United Kingdom. The company is also preparing additional training programs ahead of the arrival of new dry docks, including specialist instruction for Bahamian workers who will operate tower cranes and related heavy-lift equipment.
The Shipyard reiterated that expatriate workers are only engaged when no qualified Bahamians are available for specialized roles requiring advanced experience.
“The Shipyard remains committed to hiring and developing Bahamian talent. Expatriate workers are only hired when there are no Bahamians with the requisite trade qualifications and experience available for specialized tasks. Grand Bahama Shipyard Ltd. takes pride in supporting the local economy and developing our local workforce,” said CEO Chris Earl. “We remain committed to hiring and advancing Bahamian talent and to maintaining our reputation as a world-class facility in ship repair and maintenance.”
